Reader Question: What animation software do the studios use?

A reader recently wrote in to ask me what animation software "the big studios" use, so she could learn how to use it. Unfortunately that's a very vague question, and one that doesn't have a concrete answer. There is no industry-mandated software package that all studios use, but there are some that many studios prefer depending on their medium and target audience.

You might find studios like Pixar, who develop their own proprietary animation software - or Warner Brothers, who've been known to use everything from Toon Boom to Flash. DigiCel Flipbook has been a favorite of traditional animation studios for years, but not the only one. You might find a studio using Maya one day and Toon Boom Digital the next, depending on the production format and their needs; in fact, you might even see composites of content produced in many programs, united in one scene.

In the end they use the best program available to get the job done for the lowest cost - whether they use a mainstream package or create what they need themselves. You should worry less about using the software the studios use and worry more about honing your animation skills to the point where you produce excellent animations no matter what program is at your fingertips.